Today’s Notes: Jan. 19, 2010 VI. Comparative and Superlative Adverbs A. Comparative Adverbs 1. Compares two actions 2. Use –er or more/less to compare B. Superlative Adverbs 1. Compares more than two actions 2. Use –est or most/least to compare.

Comparative and Superlative Adverbs: Sound Familiar? 8 th Grade English Adjectives and Adverbs Unit

Remember… What is an adverb? What is an adverb? What does it do? What does it do? What is an intensifier? What is an intensifier? What does it tell us? What does it tell us?

Good…

Today… We are going to take adverbs a step further. We are going to take adverbs a step further. We are going to talk about comparative and superlative adverbs! We are going to talk about comparative and superlative adverbs! But wait… But wait…

Repeating Lesson? Didn’t we already talk about comparatives and superlatives? Didn’t we already talk about comparatives and superlatives?

Yes…but… Comparative and superlative adverbs are a lot like comparative and superlative adjectives. Comparative and superlative adverbs are a lot like comparative and superlative adjectives. They both compare things… They both compare things… However, it is all in how you use them. However, it is all in how you use them. Remember, adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Adverbs talk about action… Remember, adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Adverbs talk about action…

In short… Adverbs can be rude, too… Adverbs can be rude, too…

What? Now you are comparing actions… Now you are comparing actions…

Comparative Adverbs… The comparative form of an adverb compares two actions. The comparative form of an adverb compares two actions. Short adverbs will use –er at the end. Short adverbs will use –er at the end. Long adverbs will use more or less. Long adverbs will use more or less.

Comparative Examples… The students listened more attentively tonight than last night. The students listened more attentively tonight than last night. More attentively tells us how the audience listened in comparison to last night. More attentively tells us how the audience listened in comparison to last night.

Superlative Adverbs… Just like superlative adjectives, superlative adverbs compare more than two actions. Just like superlative adjectives, superlative adverbs compare more than two actions. Use –est at the end of most short adverbs. Use –est at the end of most short adverbs. Use most/least in front of longer adverbs. Use most/least in front of longer adverbs.

Superlative Adverb Example… Last Sunday’s audience responded most enthusiastically of all. Last Sunday’s audience responded most enthusiastically of all. Most enthusiastically is telling us how the audience responded in comparison to all the other nights. Most enthusiastically is telling us how the audience responded in comparison to all the other nights.

Some Adverbs are tricky… Some Irregular Adverbs… WellBetterBest BadlyWorseWorst Little (amount) LessLeast

Got it? Whew! Whew! Comparative Superlative adjectives are very similar to comparative and superlative adverbs…it is all in what they modify! Comparative Superlative adjectives are very similar to comparative and superlative adverbs…it is all in what they modify!

Exercise A In the following slide, tell me the comparative and superlative form of each adverb. In the following slide, tell me the comparative and superlative form of each adverb.

Exercise A Tenderly Tenderly Fast Fast Little Little Easily Easily Violently Violently Rapidly Rapidly close close

Review… A comparative adverb compares two actions. A comparative adverb compares two actions. Use –er or more/less to compare two actions. Use –er or more/less to compare two actions. A superlative adverb compares more than two actions. A superlative adverb compares more than two actions. Use –est or most/least to compare more than two actions… Use –est or most/least to compare more than two actions…

Adverb Fun!